The European Security Research
Programme is a 1.4 billion component of the current seven-year
EU Framework Research Programme (FP7, 2007-13). The ESRP has
the twin objectives of enhancing public safety through the development
of security technologies and fostering the growth of a globally
competitive European 'Homeland Security' market. Unlike other
aspects of FP7, the ESRP is managed by the European Commission's
DG for Enterprise and Industry rather than DG Research. Significant
additional funding has also been allocated to the security aspects
of other themes in the 51 billion FP7 programme (e.g. space,
transport, energy, nanotechnology etc).

Research by Statewatch and the
Transnational Institute has shown how the design of the ESRP
was largely outsourced to the major players in the nascent European
Homeland Security industry, instituting an apparent conflict
of interests within which large multinationals have been able
to shape the security research agenda, apply for the subsequent
R&D funds on offer, and then sell the resulting technologies
and systems back to the governments that funded their development.
According to a 2010 report commissioned by the European Parliament,
"it is mostly large defence companies, the very same who
have participated in the definition of EU-sponsored security
research which are the main beneficiaries of [ESRP] funds".

The EU has also recommended member
states to establish dedicated national security research programmes
and at least seven have done so.

Study on the Competitiveness
of the EU security industry (2009) - ECORYS Research and
Consulting with DECISION Etudes & Conseil and
TNO. Assesses "the current situation of the EU security
industry, its structure and organisation, competitiveness position
and challenges for the future"

Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme
of the European Community for research, technological development
and demonstration activities (2007-13)

&COPY; Statewatch ISSN 1756-851X.
Personal usage as private
individuals/"fair dealing" is allowed. We also welcome
links to material on our site. Usage by those working for organisations
is allowed only if the organisation holds an appropriate licence
from the relevant reprographic rights organisation (eg: Copyright
Licensing Agency in the UK) with such usage being subject to
the terms and conditions of that licence and to local copyright
law.